Michael Ealy Joins ‘The Following’ As New Top Villain

There will a major new cast addition on The Following in Season 3. Michael Ealy has been tapped for a one-season series regular role opposite Kevin Bacon on the Fox/Warner Bros. TV serial killer drama. In a departure for Ealy, he will play the new face of evil — a brilliant, chameleon-like killer who will push Ryan Hardy (Bacon) to the brink.

The first season of The Following was focused on the cat-and-mouse game between Hardy and serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). Season 2 broadened the scope, with Carroll still a part of the puzzle but not so prominently featured. Purefoy is returning for Season 3, but given the new setup with Hardy locked in a battle with a new brilliant killer, Carroll’s days on the show could be numbered.

This marks a reunion for Ealy with Fox and WBTV, the network and studio behind the futuristic drama series Almost Human, on which Ealy played one of the two leads. On the feature side, Ealy co-stars in the Think Like A Man franchise and recently wrapped The Perfect Guy. He is repped by Gersh and manager Darryl Taja.